Secure case

ABSTRACT

The security packaging device according to the invention consists of a known cut-resistant textile structure having integrated conductive thread layers which, in the event of mechanical loading, trigger an alarm signal. When cut-resistant knitted spacer fabrics are used, the inner surfaces of the top side and the entire underside or the inner surfaces thereof are conductive. Additional weft insertion threads, which are parallel to the spacer threads, are arranged as spacers between the top side and underside, in order to prevent any unintentional contact if pressure is applied.

The security packaging device made of cut-resistant textile material relates to suitcases and bags, for example carrying bags, bicycle panniers and motorcycle panniers, belt bags and backpacks, inter alia, which are protected against mechanical damage and theft by an alarm function.

As petty crime and vandalism increase, in order to transport valuable articles, flexible transport containers which are resistant to vandalism and theft, for example bags for valuable cargo, bags for luggage etc., are sought after. In order to mechanically protect the textile structures that are used, there are a large number of solutions for improving resistance to cutting. Spring steel wire and/or para-aramid filament yarn is used as reinforcing material. In order to achieve a high cutting resistance, it is necessary to form what are known as cable effects. These are thread accumulations which offer high resistance to the cutting tool. This effect is achieved by loosely fixed and easily displaceable reinforcing threads which are integrated alternately with float stitches. (AIF Final report 33ZBR/1/V of the TU Dresden).

Furthermore, it is also well known to incorporate the cut-resistant layers as separate surfaces in conjunction with manufacturing. To this end, EP 0441919A1 describes a tear-propagation-resistant textile structure for packaging goods to be transported, said textile structure consisting of two woven fabrics with a metallic knitted net arranged in between.

A cut-resistant composite structure having a closed top surface for subsequent lamination and a grid-like rear side with an orthogonal, diamond-shaped or hexagonal arrangement of reinforcing threads was produced as a sheet-like spacer structure on a right/right warp knitting machine (Finkelmeyer, Technische Textilien [Technical textiles] 44 (2001), pp. 32, 34-35).

In order to electronically secure pieces of luggage, preferably handbags, very loud sirens are arranged in the interior, said sirens being used with a kind of ripcord which is located on the wrist of the carrier. In the event of a theft, when the bag is snatched a continuous tone is triggered and cannot readily be stopped.

Infineon Technologies AG found a way of equipping large-surface-area textiles with intelligence, which can be used for diverse monitoring functions. To this end, microelectronic modules are integrated into the textile structure (see for example http://www.texbac.de/html/intel_teppich.html).

In order to retrieve or locate persons or objects, the GPS system is used. The fields of application of what are known as “Know Where” solutions are practically unlimited. To this end, the corresponding electronics are integrated together with the GPS antenna for example in items of clothing.

It is the object of the invention to create a security packaging device which is cut-resistant, triggers an alarm in the event of damage and can be located at any time. The location is intended to take place via internal position determination by GPS and be transmitted to the owner of the security packaging device or some other defined receiver by means of a transmitter unit which is in the form of a GSM module.

The security packaging device according to the invention consists of a known cut-resistant textile structure having integrated conductive thread layers which, in the event of mechanical loading, trigger an alarm signal. When cut-resistant knitted spacer fabrics are used, the inner surfaces of the top side and the entire underside or the inner surfaces thereof are conductive. Additional weft insertion threads, which are parallel to the spacer threads, are arranged as spacers between the top side and underside, in order to prevent any unintentional contact if pressure is applied.

According to the invention, it is also possible to use for the security packaging device a cut-resistant composite knitted fabric which, in its interior, contains two conductive sheet-like structures with an insulation layer arranged in between. In the case of the two textile structures, in the event of piercing with the cutting tool, electrical contact is produced between the conductive layers, as a result of which an alarm is immediately triggered, without significant damage to the packaging device. Stolen security packaging devices can be retrieved or located via a GPS device integrated in the packaging device.

The invention is explained in more detail in the following text by way of an exemplary embodiment. In the associated drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a security packaging device as a suitcase,

FIG. 2 shows the cut-resistant knitted spacer fabric with incorporated contact zones and spacers as a sectional illustration in the stitch row direction,

FIG. 3 shows the cut-resistant knitted spacer fabric with incorporated contact zones and spacers as a sectional illustration in the stitch wale direction,

FIG. 4 shows the position of the conductive threads in the region of the inner side of the top side and underside,

FIG. 5 shows a cut-resistant composite knitted fabric with integrated contact zones.

Wherein the following components are designated:

1 Security packaging device

2 Envelope surfaces

3 GPS system

4 Top side of the knitted spacer fabric

5 Inner side of the top side

6 Underside of the knitted spacer fabric

7 Inner surface of the underside

8 Spacer threads

9 Electrically non-conductive weft insertion threads as spacers

10 Top side and underside of the knitted spacer fabric as seen from the left-hand side and from the inner surfaces, respectively

11 Stitching threads

12 Electrically conductive partial weft threads

13 Top side made of nonwoven, knitted fabric or woven fabric

14 and 14′ Electrically conductive film or metallized nonwoven

15 Insulation material as nonwoven, film or paper

16 Reinforcing threads for resistance to cutting

17 Underside made of nonwoven, woven fabric or knitted fabric

18 Stitch connection

The security packaging device may be in the form of a suitcase, carrying bag, motorcycle pannier, bicycle pannier, backpack, bag for valuable cargo, belt bag or of some other flexible transport container having any desired shape. The external envelope surfaces 2 of the security packaging device 1 consist of a known cut-resistant textile structure. It is preferable to use knitted spacer fabrics having a top side 4 and an underside 5, wherein the inner surfaces of the sides 5 and 7 consist of electrically conductive (partial) weft threads 12 which are kept apart by the weft insertion threads 9 even in the event of strong application of pressure, in order that no conductive connection arises. The spacer threads 8 ensure the normal spacing of the textile surfaces. A GPS system is incorporated into the security packaging device so as to be invisible from the outside. If a metallic blade pierces the security packaging device, an electric connection is produced between the conductive threads 12 which form the inner surfaces of the top sides 5 and the inner surface of the underside 7, and as a result an alarm is triggered. The alarm device is integrated in the security packaging device. If necessary, the alarm may also be passed onto a central security station and/or to the owner's cell phone, preferably as a silent alarm. The cutting resistance is also ensured by the steel wires, metal threads or para-aramid threads which are incorporated in a known manner.

It is also possible to use, as cut-resistant textile structure, a composite knitted fabric which, in the interior of the composite, contains two conductive sheet-like structures which are made of film, nonwoven, woven fabric or knitted fabric 14 and are electrically separated by an electrically non-conductive insulation layer 15, located in between, having high flexibility and low penetration resistance. The top side 13 of the composite may consist of prefabricated sheet-like structures, such as nonwovens or woven fabrics, for example, which, if required, may also be coated with cut-resistant coating material made of ceramic substances, glass beads or graphene portions in the coating compound. In addition to cutting resistance, the graphene portions in the coating compound also allow electrical conductivity of the layer. If a further conductive layer is located in the textile composite, a short circuit occurs in the event of penetration with a metallic object (knife).

Reinforcing threads for resistance to cutting 16 are also arranged in the composite. The underside of the composite structure 17 may consist of any desired sheet-like structures. However, it is also possible to realize a closed surface by way of a thread composite.

The alarm is triggered in the event of an attempt to pierce the security packaging device by the electrically conductive thread materials, coatings or films being electrically connected as a result of the cut and the electrically conductive structures coming into contact. 

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A cut-resistant textile structure, comprising: a composite knitted fabric having an interior containing two conductive sheet-shaped structures and an insulation layer disposed therebetween, or a knitted spacer fabric having a top side, an underside, inner surfaces of said top side and said underside formed of electrically conductive partial weft threads, and electrically non-conductive weft insertion threads keeping said partial weft threads apart; said two conductive sheet-shaped structures producing electrical contact therebetween or said electrically conductive partial weft threads producing electrical contact therebetween in the event of piercing with a cutting tool to trigger an alarm.
 11. The cut-resistant textile structure according to claim 10, wherein said composite knitted fabric has a layer structure with layers and a stitch connection connecting said layers.
 12. The cut-resistant textile structure according to claim 10, wherein said conductive sheet-shaped structures are made of knitted fabric having integrated conductive thread layers.
 13. The cut-resistant textile structure according to claim 10, wherein said conductive sheet-shaped structures are made of electrically conductive film or metallized nonwoven or woven fabric.
 14. The cut-resistant textile structure according to claim 10, wherein said composite knitted fabric has at least one of a top side or an underside formed of nonwoven, knitted fabric or woven fabric.
 15. The cut-resistant textile structure according to claim 14, which further comprises cut-resistant coating material made of ceramic substances, glass beads or graphene portions in a coating composition coating said top side of said composite knitted fabric.
 16. The cut-resistant textile structure according to claim 10, wherein said insulation layer is formed of nonwoven, film or paper.
 17. The cut-resistant textile structure according to claim 10, which further comprises reinforcing threads disposed in said composite knitted fabric for resistance to cutting.
 18. The cut-resistant textile structure as claimed claim 14, which further comprises spacer threads, said weft insertion threads being disposed as spacers between said top side and said underside of said knitted spacer fabric, in addition to and parallel to said spacer threads.
 19. The cut-resistant textile structure according to claim 10, which further comprises steel wires, metal threads or para-aramid threads incorporated into the cut-resistant textile structure.
 20. A security packaging device, comprising: envelope surfaces formed of a cut-resistant textile structure according to claim
 10. 21. The security packaging device according to claim 20, which further comprises an alarm device integrated into the security packaging device and having a silent or audible alarm function, said alarm device configured to be actuated and transmit signals if an attempt is made to cut open and/or pierce the security packaging device causing said two conductive sheet-shaped structures or said electrically conductive partial weft threads to be connected.
 22. The security packaging device according to claim 20, which further comprises a GPS device being invisible from the outside and configured to provide internal position determination, and a transmitter unit for transmitting a location of said GPS device to a receiver.
 23. The security packaging device according to claim 20, wherein said envelope surfaces form a flexible transport container of any desired shape.
 24. A security packaging device, comprising: a textile composite including cut-resistant textile structures having an interior, at least two internal electrically conductive layers and an insulation layer separating said at least two internal electrically conductive layers; said at least two internal electrically conductive layers forming a thread layer compound having conductive threads disposed in said interior and an electrically conductive coating formed of graphene portions in said layer compound; said at least two internal electrically conductive layers configured to produce electrical contact therebetween in the event of piercing with a cutting tool to trigger an electrical signal causing an alarm. 